Thinkpads Forum

Hi all,

I'm soon going to purchase my first Thinkpad...I'm already all excited about it It it probably going to be the X61 Tablet, since I want a high resolution on a small laptop - the 12" sxga screen seems to be the only one having that?

Anyway, what I was wondering is the quality of the (Flexview) screen in terms of graphic accuracy... Since there is an extra layer for the touch functionality (though I understood that one's actually behind the LCD?) and an extra layer in front of it to protect the LCD, I can imagine that quality wouldn't be the same as with normal laptop screens?

I also read things like the anti-glare look of the screen causing fuzzy images.... Well, I probably won't be using the tablet mode really often and also want to use the machine for reviewing high-res photo's, doing some photoshop and watching a movie now and then.

Therefore, can anyone of you comment on the loss of quality in these terms one has to accept for having the tablet functions? Am I worrying too much here and will all be just fine or is there reasonable doubt?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions! Glad to soon be part of what I think is a great community!

Screen quality is an intensely debated subject here, and there are reports of graininess, low brightness, and other miscellany on the tablet screens. In my personal opinion, however, these complaints represent the concerns of a sophisticated and highly demanding subset of users who settle for little less than perfection. Well, perfection needs to be pursued so the rest of us can forget about it, and I think the machines you hope to buy will meet the needs of most users interested in accurate color reproduction and image quality.

I for one didn't notice the "graininess" of my screen until reading about it here in the forum, and it was only when I examined my screen in light of that information that lo-and-behold, the effect became noticeable. Most likely many of the issues you describe have a psychological component to them, so I would rest assured knowing that these are minor quibbles for most users. Again, most people post here only when problems arise, and very few people post when everything is running smoothly, yet it is arguably the latter group that comprise the majority of ThinkPad users. So I think you would be well-served with your new X61T.

The SXGA+ flexview screen for the x61t is the best laptop screen I have ever used. The image is crystal clear with perfect sharpness and contrast. The protective layer is invisible when the screen is lit and absolutely doesn't look like one of those ugly glossy screens you see everywhere these days (at least when it is clean).
Though it's only 12.1 inches, I often watch movies on my thinkpad and the great contrast and viewing angle always make it a very comfortable experience.
Finally, I also use it for Photo viewing and editing and not only is the high resolution perfect for that kind of work, but I also really like the color rendering.

IMO, the only imperfection of that panel is that it is very very difficult to clean.

Thanks you both....that gives me enough confidence to make the decision...